First photo is of the trunk and the second is of a small (80mm x 40mm x 4mm) sanded and lightly oiled piece and a larger piece (170mm x 40mm x 20mm) freshly cut and unsanded.

I was given 2 pieces of a tree trunk measuring about 40cm in diameter recently from a friend of a friend who had no information to offer about them. One piece of trunk I have cut up for future projects but try as I may I can’t find anything on the net to help giving it a name.

The wood is very heavy, dense and has a “herbal tea bag” smell to it. It doesn’t sand easily but eventually sands to a great finish.

I’d be very grateful if someone could help with info or a link. Thanks you guys

RegardsSteve

-- I started out with nothing and I still have a lot left!

19 replies so far

Did it come from a tree cut locally (and where is that)? That may give us some hints. Has bark been removed or is that the outside of the tree just like when it was standing? The olive color may be helpful, but I’d like to know where it came from.

Look closely at the end grain, if the pores are arranged in an orderly manner (even groups along defined bands) you might very well have osage orange, now if the pores are just all over the endgrain it could very likely be teak. Hard to tell just from color or growth rings on the debarked piece.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions and ideas. The wood was given to me here in China so I’m presuming it’s either native or an import from somewhere in Asia/The World? I don’t think its Osage Orange as the test with shavings in water proved negative.

I hope the end grain picture will suffice? I rubbed some linseed oil on the right half because it seemed to help bring out the grain, the left side has no oil or the like. The end grain is so tight it’s difficult to make out detail as Mario questioned.

I noticed the sawdust left on the band had turned a greenish color after a short time if that means anything to someone. I asked the guy about the bark and he tells me that’s how it was when he got it given to him.

The smell is quite strong and knowing the Chinese as I do this is the kind of smell they’d like wafting around their room I think. Not my cup of tea though much prefer the smell of a good curry!

This is not going by grain look and I’m not exactly familiar with Asian trees, but going by density and the possible fact that I’m looking at the “bark” on the round (and it hasn’t been removed), could it be eucalyptus? That’s not based on much though.

I received an email today from the guy that gave me the wood and he informs me that the name in Chinese is ( 玉檀香 ) which with Google Translate is “Jade Sandalwood”. From this I was able to find out more information on one of many sites such as this one:

As for end grain pics, you need to get A LOT CLOSER than that with clear focus -were looking for pores (tiny holes) or anything telling. And oil will severely darken end grain so sometimes its better to not oil it for close up ID purposes.

Palo santo is apparently an incense wood (ie sandalwood) so thats cool and would explain its aroma.

Incidentally, Eucalyptus wood doesnt have much of an odor, unlike its leaves.

Almost sure is Palo Santo (Bulnesia sarmientoi). The smell is characteristic to this species. In Paraguay (where I am from..) was very common (and precious) wood. Was declared an endangered species a couple of years ago. Very dense and hard, nice greenish color. Suitable for turning. The most exotic use I know of is the Dogfish brand Beer Palo Santo infused….”An unfiltered, unfettered, unprecedented brown ale aged in handmade wooden brewing vessels. The caramel and vanilla complexity unique to this beer comes from the exotic Paraguayan Palo Santo wood from which these tanks were crafted..”